AMstopped by the opening of Yoshitomo Nara & design firm graf/YNG’s “Open Studio” at the Park Avenue Armory. Using the massive Armory venue as a central staging ground, the YNG crew hit the ground running; creating a modular structure/installation designed to be carted up Park Ave in the upcoming week for the retrospective opening September 9th at the Asia Society. There, Nara will exhibit over 50 works to go along with the always impressive installations that accompany the immersive shows.

Occupying the other half of the Armory space, Nara has a make shift studio where on-lookers can observe the master at work on some fresh pieces intended to be additions of this exhibition. The in-progress construction site was just that as attendees were required to wear hard hats and closed-toed shoes as safety precautions to gain entry to the work site. This unique experience is open daily from 4pm – 7pm until August 27th, so definitely make a trip up to the Park Avenue Armory to check out Nara and his crew hard at work.

Good News/Bad News… The bad news: we were informed to stop taking further pictures until Thursday. The good news: we got a nice shot of Nara’s pseudo studio before that conversation.